How to Drive Diversity Into Supply Chains
Supply Chain Brain | January 28, 2021
The Supply Chain Brain article, "How to Drive Diversity Into Supply Chains," was written by Russell Reynolds Associates Consultant
Markus Hofer on how supply chain and logistics businesses can drive diversity within their organizations. The article is excerpted below.
The world of business has finally figured out what seems intuitive: diversity matters. Motivated by ethical concerns, as well as the conviction that a more demographically representative company is more effective, firms are actively trying to address long-held gender and racial imbalances.
While this force is observable in sectors such as high tech, where startups increasingly tout C-suite positions like Chief Diversity Officer, it also extends to more established corporate players. In September of 2020, PwC, one of the “big four” auditing and accounting firms, published its first Diversity and Inclusion Transparency Report, which outlines its strategy to reduce homogeneity in its workforce, as well as results toward that end to date.
The supply chain and logistics sector isn’t immune to these trends. Like the worlds of technology and finance, it has a well-deserved reputation for being somewhat of a “boy’s club,” similar to the likes of the oil and gas industry. The most recent industry demographics data from Gartner underlines that point. In 2019, women accounted for just 39% of the supply-chain workforce, despite representing more than 50% of the professional workforce in developed markets. The divide only gets wider at the leadership level.
Leadership positions were largely concentrated in the hands of men, who occupied 89% of all top roles. This figure represents a drop from 2017, when women held 15% of CSCO, EVP, SVP and CPO positions.
Gender diversity is just one piece of a multifaceted puzzle that supply-chain firms must solve. It cuts along several strata, including race, sexuality, ability, skillset, experience, and age, each with its own challenges and foibles. The one unifying factor is the urgency in which they must be solved.
Take age, for example. In 2016, the U.K. Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) found that just 9% of those working in the supply chain and logistics sector were under 25. Nearly half — 45% — were over 45. The problem is compounded by the fact that many of the skills learned within the industry are non-transferable to other sectors. Like the Hotel California, it’s easy to check in, but almost impossible to leave. This limited mobility reduces the healthy turnover within a company that seeks innovation and new ideas.
To read the full article, click here.
Latest
- Can GC Succession Planning Drive Diversity?
- GC Ranks Are More Diverse Since 2013, Study Says
- Boards Boast New Directors’ ESG Expertise
- Top ESG Trends for 2021: Stability and Sustainability in the Investment Community
- Leaders with a 'sustainable mindset' can help solve societal problems
- Opening the Door
- Lighting the Way toward Employee Well-Being
- Executive Recruiting for Canadian Organizations
- How to Drive Diversity Into Supply Chains
- A time for introspection – considering the impact of your own business